Former Health Minister Dr Kasonde has died

Family sources revealed that Dr Kasonde died after a battle with liver cancer.

Zambia Medical Association President Dr Abidan Chansa confirmed the death of Dr Kasonde.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing on of our senior colleague of the profession, Honourable Dr Joseph Kasonde, former Minister of Health,” Dr Chansa said.

Dr Kasonde died around 21:30 Hours on Friday at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.

Dr Kasonde was a Zambian politician who served as the Minister of Health from October 2011 to 2016.

He served both in the Michael Sata as well as the Edgar Chagwa Lungu administration (2011 to 2016).

Dr graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1966 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree.

He was a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

He thereafter attained his Doctor of Medicine degree by thesis in 1976 from the University of Oxford.

From 1977 to 1984 Dr Kasonde served as Director of Medical Services, combining this position with that of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health of Zambia from 1979.

From 1985 to 1998 he worked for the World Health Organization as Responsible Officer for Research Capacity Strengthening in Developing countries in the Special Programme for Research and Research Training in Human Reproduction

Dr Joseph Kasonde was a great professional doctor who never spoke anything bad about others within PF or about opposition leaders.how i wish politicians with big mouths such as Kambwili and GBM could be like him!!oh sorry,the two are not learned so they cant be like Dr.Kasonde.
This is a great loss for mother Zambia!!!
MHSRIP!!!we shall always remember you Doc!!!

A great professional and elder brother to one of the contributors on this site, Dr. Makasa Kasonde. My heartfelt condolences to the family of this great man who went out there not to hurt anyone but merely to serve. Batushe muchibote chamfumu shikulu (RIP). Now I understand why late Michael Sata brought him back as health minister looking at his rich CV and his wonderful personality and character. President Lungu needs to look at such unsung heroes who have contributed greatly to this nation instead of focusing more on cadres in his appointments.

A true great son of the soil! A highly accomplished person! May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace. A fact that he sought treatement at home and not abroad shows the love he had for mother Zambia. A true patriot one we should all try and emulate regardless of political background. Fare the well Dr Kasonde you will be missed by all.

A true professional he never used abusive language on anyone but he just worked. Oh Dr I never knew you but I admired you very much soft spoken and working for the people of Zambia. May your soul rest in eternal peace. Condolences to your family

A perfect gentleman. This is why it is important to be educated and enlightened. This man studied overseas and excelled. He was well cultured but also had a good family background. He returned to build Zambia and married a fellow Zambian. Ebaume aba!!! Not loose tongued fat slobs like GBM and Neckless Kabova Kambwili.

Dr Kasonde had indeed a good personality, he was such a down-to-earth Minister, so soft spoken but full of wisdom. He was hard working and very accommodating to all. What a loss to Mother Zambia. MHSRIP

Too sad and a big loss for Zambia. We used one of the National Formulae books for Zambia that you were chairman of its publication in the 1980’s to help our patients. We will miss you! God be with the family!

Dr, Kasonde was such a humble man, but inherently an extremely brilliant professional man in the field of Medicine. He mastered medical issues so well that Zambia had a very rare privilege of sourcing Dr. Kasonde’s services in the Ministry of Health at the highest level. He still retained a pool of wisdom that the Ministry of Health and entire Government tapped on to resolve health matters nationally. This is a national loss. Sincere condolences to the Kasonde Family. MHSRIP.

What a sad loss. A professional colleague of global standing. I worked with Dr KASONDE at WHO in Geneva and he was a great mentor. ….very active in strengthening research capacity for the next generation of researchers. May his soul rest in peace